27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
02 Acts 12 20-25 THE WORD OF GOD GREW 16 Acts 12 24 Pray for the word to run swiftly
📖 Acts 12:20-25
16 – Sun, 09 Feb 2025 – *Pray for the word to run swiftly* - _Acts 12:20-25_ – THE WORD OF GOD GREW – _II Thessalonians 03:01_
_Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied._
We live in challenging times. There is pressure all around us not to preach the word of God.
I remember a discussion just 10 years ago in which senior Christian leaders in India lamented that the Bible was not at the centre of public debate in India. Yet, within this one decade, things have drastically changed in our country.
Several of our dear brothers and sisters are in prison in India for sharing the Gospel. More and more are being arrested every day, cases are being filed against them in courts, and they are being sent to prison. We are now one of the most highly persecuted countries in the world for the word of God.
There are several leaders in India, who have publicly declared that they will hurt us, burn down our churches, shut down our mission efforts and will shut us up in prison. They have carried out and are carrying out their threats, across the country. The state of Manipur in the North East part of India witnessed the horror of the evil and wickedness perpetrated against the church.
This is the situation all over the world.
How should we pray? _II Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, *that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified*, just as it is with you,_
*Though there is increased pressure from all sides, we will not hold back, but we will work for the word of God to run swiftly*.
For the word of God to run swiftly, we must see the people the way Jesus saw them. _Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd._ Jesus was moved with compassion for the people. He saw them weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd.
This is how we must see our people. We must see the bondages and oppressions under which they are struggling. People may have their material needs met but within them, there is weariness and sorrow. They have no hope but are trying various means to experience fulfilment in life. Nothing is satisfying. We must have compassion for our people.
Being close to our people, we can appreciate the struggles that they undergo. We can identify with our people and share the word of God with them, to their real needs. The Lord is showing us that the harvest around is plenty. _Matthew 9:37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few._
The labourers are few because there are very few who see the condition of the people and have true compassion for them. *Many of us do God’s work out of guilt or compulsion but very few do the work of Gospel out of compassion*.
The Lord has asked us to pray for workers who will see people the way He saw the people, and share the word of God with them. _Matthew 9:38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."_
We must pray for the word of God to run swiftly and we must pray that there will be workers who will have the compassion of Jesus in sharing the word of God. The harvest is plenty because people are weary and scattered all around us.
We must also pray that in these times of persecution, we will be bold in sharing the Gospel. _Ephesians 6:19-20 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, *that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel*, (20) for which I am an ambassador in chains; *that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak*._
We naturally pray for the protection of the servants of God and their families, in these times of persecution, but what we must pray for is boldness. Yes, let there be persecution, but we pray that we will be bold in sharing the Gospel. _Acts 4:29-31 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and *grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word*, (30) by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." (31) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and *they spoke the word of God with boldness*._
We must pray for oneness in the body of Christ so that the world will turn to Christ. _John 17:21-23 *that they all may be one*, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, *that the world may believe that You sent Me*. (22) And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, *that they may be one just as We are one*: (23) I in them, and You in Me; *that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me*, and have loved them as You have loved Me._
*The disunity among us is what hinders people from turning to Christ*.
This must be our prayer for the word of God to grow and multiply swiftly.
- There will be workers who will have the compassion of Jesus
- We will be bold
- We will be one